Carriage mechanism.



UNITED STATES Patented May 26, 1903.

JOHN J. GREEN, OF B'OJONTON, NEW JERSEY.

CARRIAGE MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 729,327, dated May 26, 1903.

Serial N05111 248. at model.)

To all whom it may concern.- Be it known that I, JOHN JAY GREEN, a citi zen of the United States, residing in Boon ton, in the county of Morris and-State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carriage Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to the carriage mechanism of typographic machines, es-f pecially typographic machines of the typewriter class; andits main objects are to pro-- vide an improved organization whereby'the platen may be readily shifted in either direction from its normal position toward the front or towardthe rear of the machine, to provide} aconstruction of the platen and its associated: mechanism designed. especially to facilitate; the various manipulations of which theformer is capable, and to provide novel adjustable stop members for limiting the motion of the ted. Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the car-- riage mechanism looking from the rear of .the

' machine; and Fig. 3 is a similar elevational Similar characters of reference designate.

corresponding parts in all figures. I

The supporting-frame of the machine may be of a desired and appropriate designand,

construction, comprising in the illustrated form thereof a base B, at opposite sides of which and adjacent to the rearof the machine are secured side brackets 19 b, connected by a stretcher-bar b" and constituting a subordinate frame by which the carriage and its shifta-ble bedaresupported. This carriage (designated in a general way by C) is capable of being shifted toward the front and toward the rear of the machine relatively to a normal position for the purpose, for instance, of bringing at will the platen, hereinafter referred to, into operative relation with either one of the printing-types of an actuated typebar (no type-bars being shown) located upon opposite sides of the type, which is effective to print a character of ordinary composition. To permit of this movement, the bed 0 of the carriage is mounted upon guide-rails 2 2, ex- -tending between the aforesaid stretcher-bar .b'and.correspondinglugs b on the brackets 17 I). These rails 2 2 are in this instance in the form of cylindrical rods, and the means for mounting the shiftable bed thereon comprises-agro'oved roller. 3,- engaging with one rod, and a cylindrical roller 3', engaging with the other, bot-h of these rollers being rotata- -bly mounted upon'thebed.

Referring nowto the means provided by the-present invention for efiecting the foreand-aft or backward-and-forward shifting of thecarriage and carriage-bed, two shift-keys are employed, (designated by D and D, respectively.) In the particular organization illustrated the latter of these keys is disposed nearer the front of the machine than the other and when actuated serves to shift the parts toward the rear, operating to effect a movement oppositely to. thataccomplished by the direct actuation-of the other key, and

,hence while loneof the keys serves upon its depression to shift the carriage and carriagebed rearwardly, on the other hand, when the other shift-key is directly actuated, a forward shifting movement of the parts. will; result.

The construction employed for accomplishing this comprises a shiftQlever 4, fulcrnmed intermediate its ends by a stud l to the left side of the base B and carrying at the end of .the forwardly-extending arm the key D,

while its rearwardly-extending arm is provided with a lateral projection 4?, with the upper edge of which is adapted to contact the heel 5 of a spring-pressed latch 5, pivoted by a pin, such as 5 to the arm 6 of an angle -lever 6. The latch 5 supports the aforesaid shift-key D and is urged bya spring 7, connecting the latch with 2!. lug 7 on the angle-lever 6, to a position such that the aforesaid heel 5 is disposed above the lateral projection 4 on the lever 4. This position of the latch is determined by a stop 5 formed in this instance by bending the upper edge of the latch over the edge of the forwardlyprojecting arm of the lever 6. Upon the depression of the shift-key D the first result is ICO the slipping of the heel 5' off the projection 4 whereupon a stop 5 (formed in this instance by laterally bending the latch) is brought against the lower edge of the arm of the lever 6. Further depression of the key now causes the actuation of the angle-lever 6 and the turning of the same about its pivot 6', thereby communicating motion to the carriage-bed through an arm 7 secured thereto and pivoted at its free end to the upwardlyextending arm 6 of the angle-lever. Suitable stops 8 8, the former being in this instance located upon the upwardly-extending arm of the angle-lever and cooperating with a portion of the framing, serve to limit the backward and forward movements of the angle-lever. It is evident from this construction that while by the depression of the shiftkey D the forward movement of the carriage and its supporting-bed may be effected, yet upon the depression of the shift-key D, the motion being then transmitted through the latch to the angle -lever, a reverse movement of the carriage, &c., from their normal positions is accomplished. Leaf-springs 8" 8 tend to return the shifted carriage to and maintain the same in its central position. A spring 9 may be advantageously combined with the lever 4 to assure the return of the lever after actuation. While the carriage and its bed are as a whole shiftable toward the front and toward the rear of the machine, the platen itself is capable of a longitudinal step-by-step movement for letter and word spacing as the type-bars (not shown) are successively operated. In the construction herein set forth the carriage O is adapted to move along runways 10 10, comprised in the carriage-bed and extending from side to side of the machine. The roller-platen E is mounted in side pieces 12 12, comprised in the carriage C and rigidly connected at the rear by a stretcher-bar 13, which supports a journaled roller 13, adapted to roll to and fro longitudinally of. the runway 10, while at the front there is disposed a guide-bar 14 of the carriage, having a V-shaped groove in its lower surface, in which and in a corresponding groove in the runway 10' are one or more antifriction carriage-supporting balls 15. The longitudinally-movable carriage may be confined to a free longitudinal movement on the runways 10 10 in any suitable manner. In this instance an inverted- L-shaped finger 16, secured to the runway 10, has its laterallybent end disposed above the stretcher-bar 13, while at the front similar L-shaped fingers 16 16, secured to the runway 10, cooperate with the upper surface of the guide-bar 14 to prevent the accidental vertical dislodgment of the parts. The supporting-journal of the roller-platen E is extended at the left and provided with a thumb-wheel 17, while rigid with the journal of the platen there is a ratchet-wheel 18, disposed in this instance exteriorly of the side piece 12, in which the platen is journaled. A pawl 18, carried by a pawl-carrier 18 journaled concentrically with the platen, is adapted to engage with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 18 for the purpose of efiecting the line-spacing, a fingerpiece 18 being provided on this pawl-carrier for facilitating its manipulation. The pawlcarrier is drawn to its retracted position by a spring 19, which engages at one end with a lug 19 of the side bracket 12 and at the other end with a projection 19 upon the pawl, the action of the spring tending not only to retract the pawl-carrier, but also to draw the pawl into engagement with the ratchet-wheel. When the pawl-carrier is in its retracted position, however, the pawl does not engage with the ratchet-wheel, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, the pawl being held away from the ratchet-wheel by a pawl-lifter 20 in the nature of a projection on the side frame 12', and with which engages a laterally-projecting finger 20 on the pawl. The platen is thus left free to be rotated by hand, as in ruling, &c. Forlimiting the amount of angular movement impartable to the ratchet-wheel, and hence to the platen, in efiecting line-spacing a stop 21. is journaled to the side frame 12 in cooperative relation with a stop-arm 21 on the pawlcarrier. Preferably the-amount of angular movement impartable to the ratchet-Wheel is adjustable for the purpose of changing the space distance between lines. The stop 21 is therefore in this instance held frictionally tight by its pivot-pin 21 and has a plurality of stop-faces 21 with any one of which the stop-arm 21 may be made to cooperate, while a portion 21 of the side frame 12', bent laterally across the path of the stop-arm, limits the return movement of the pawl-carrier under the tension of the spring 19'.

The means for feeding the carriage step by step during the progress of the composition comprises the usual spring-actuated drum 22, journaled in a depending lug 22' on the carriage-bed C and connected with the carriage by a band 22 encircling the drum and cansing the latter to so operate as to maintain the teeth on a ratchet-bar 23 on the carriage pressed against a tooth 24 on an oscillatory frame 24;, oscillatable about a journal-pin 25, extending through arms 26 26, depending from the runway 10. A spring 25", connected at one end to an arm 25 and at the other end to a lug 25 on the rock-frame, tends to maintain the aforesaid tooth 24 in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-bar. When, however, as the result of the actuation of the spacer-bar or of a key of the key mechanism (not shown) said rock-frame is swung to one side on its axis, (through a suitable connection, indicated in part and designated by 27,) the tooth 24 is released from engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-bar, while a feedtooth 28 is simultaneously with this release brought into engagement with the ratchetbar. This tooth 28 is in this instance mounted to slide in the direction of the carriage movement, and owing to the preponderating force exerted by the spring of the actuating drum 22 the returning-spring 28 of the feedtooth is overcome and the carriage feeds forward in the usual mannerastep. When the rock-frame swings back and the tooth 24 reengages with the teeth of the ratchet-bar, the feed-tooth being released springs forward the width of a ratchet-tooth under the action of the spring 28, ready again to perform the feeding action upon the actuation of a key or the spacer. The ratchet-bar 23 is not connected rigidly to the carriage, but has affixed to it side arms 29 29', pivoted at points, such as 29 29 to the supporting-frames of the platen. Afinger-piece 30, secured to the pivoted side arm 29, enables the ratchet-bar to be withdrawn from engagement with the teeth 24 and 28, thus leaving the carriage free to be drawn to the left under the action of the spring of the drum 22 or to be manually shifted in the opposite direction against the tension of such spring. The organization is such that when the aforesaid pawl-can rier 18 is shifted to turn the roller-platen a pin 31, extending from the arm 21 of the car-j rier, is brought to bear against the fingerpiece 30, and as the pawl-carrier continues its movement the side arms are swung backward in such a manner as to disengage the ratchetbar from the teeth 24 and 28, thus leaving the carriage free to be shifted back and forth longitudinally. Although the ratchet-bar and its side arms are so pivoted as to render the weight of the part effectual in maintaining the engagement of the ratchet-bar with the teeth 24 and 28, I have so combined a leafspring 31 with the pin 31 as that when the pawl-carrier is in its normal or unactuated position the ratchet bar will be springpressed downward into its engaging position. (See Fig. 1.)

Ordinarily means will be provided for suitably guiding the paper and creating sufiicient pressure on the platen to prevent its accidental rotation. In this instance this means comprises rearwardly-extending arms 33 33 at opposite ends of the platen and pivoted adjacent to the bases of the. frames in which such platen is j ournaled. The rearward ends of these arms are connected by a bar 34, over which the paper may run, while adjacent to the base of such arms a roller 35 is journaled, which may be incased in a compressible covering, such as rubber, in order to increase the bite between it and the platen, this roller being drawn down firmly against the platen by a spring 35 The presser-bar 36-, having laterally-bent arms 36 36", is journaled in the aforesaid arms 33 33, being pressed down upon the surface of the platen by the action of a spring 37, with which engages an angularly-bent portion 37 at the extreme end of the presser-bar and so related as to enable the spring to perform its function in pressing the bar against the platen or holding it off the same when the bar is thrown upward.

A marginal stop adjustable lengthwise of the ways upon which the carriage longitudinally moves is shown, comprising a plate 38, having laterally-projecting guiding-ears 38' 38 from the latter of which projects aspring 38 impinging against the edge of a ratchetbar 39 and tending to press the edge ofa finger-piece 39 on the stop into engagement with the teeth of the ratchetbar. Aface 39 on this stop member is disposed in the path of a portion 41 of an arm 41, pivoted to the aforesaid stretcher-bar 13, this pivoted arm -working in a slot 41 formed in the side frame 12, and being provided with a finger portion 41 An alarm-bell is designated by 42, the same being mounted at the right of the carriagebed and being adapted to be struck by a striker 42, pivoted at'the rear side of the bed and having a lateral projection 42 with hich is adapted to engage a swing-arm 43, preferably weighted at its lower end and having a finger portion 43 extending into the path ofa projection 43 upon the carriage.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination with a longitudinallymovable platen of a shift-lever therefor, a second shift-lever adapted to transmitits motion through the first-mentioned shift-lever, and an intermediate connector normally connecting one lever with the other and shiftable to a position in which it is inoperative to transmit motion between the levers.

2. The combination with a longitudinallymovable platen, of a shift-lever for the platen pivoted intermediate its ends and adapted to shift the platen from its normal position in one direction transversely to the line of its longitudinal movement, an independentlyactuatable lever for shifting the platen in the opposite direction and through which the movement of the first-mentioned shift-lever when actuated is transmitted, and an inter mediate eopnector normally connecting one lever with the other and shiftable when the second-mentioned lever is actuated to a position in which it is inoperative to transmit motion between the levers.

3. The combination with a longitudinallymovable platen, of a shift-lever for shifting the platen from a normal position in one direction transversely to its line of longitudinal movement, an independently-actuatable shift-lever for shifting the platen from such position in the opposite direction,and a springpressed shift-key-supporting latch mounted upon the second-mentioned lever and in normal operative relation with the first-mentioned shift-lever.

4. The combination with a longitudinallymovable platen, of a shift-lever therefor pivoted intermediate its ends and having a lateral extension at one end, an independentlyactuatable shift lever, a latch pivotally mounted upon the second-mentioned lever, and stops for limiting the pivotal motion of the latch in opposite directions, said latch being adapted to rest upon said lateral extension.

5. The combination with a shiftable supporting-bed and a platen mounted to move longitudinally thereon, of a shift-lever, a second shift-lever adapted to transmit its motion through the first shift-lever, and an intermediate connector normally connecting one lever with the other and shiftable to a position in which it is inoperative to transmit motion between the levers.

6. The combination with a supporting-bed and a platen mounted to move longitudinally thereon, of a shift-lever for said supportingbed pivoted intermediate its ends and adapted to shift said supporting-bed from its normal position in one direction transversely to the line of the longitudinal movement of the platen, an independently-actuatable shift-lever for shifting said supporting-bed from such position in the opposite direction and through which the movement of the first-mentioned shift-lever when actuated is transmitted, and an intermediate connector normally connecting one lever with the other and shiftable when the second-mentioned lever is actuated to aposition in which it isinoperative to transmit motion between the levers.

7. The combination with a shiftable supporting-bed and a platen mounted to move longitudinally thereon, of a shift-lever for shifting said supporting-bed from its normal position in one direction transversely to the line of longitudinal movement of the platen, an independently-actuatable shift-lever for shifting said bed from such position in the opposite direction, and a spring-pressed shiftkey-supporting latch mounted upon the second-mentioned lever and in normal operative relation with the first-mentioned shift-lever.

8. The combination with a shiftable sup porting-bed and a platen mounted to move longitudinally thereon, of a shift-key pivoted intermediate its ends and having a lateral extension at one end, an independently-actuatable shift-lever, a latch pivotally mounted upon the second-mentioned lever, and stops for limiting the pivotal motion of the latch in opposite directions, said latch being adapted to rest upon said lateral extension.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a shiftable supporting-bed, of rails extending from the front toward the rear of the machine, a grooved and a cylindrical roller mounted upon said bed and adapted to travel on said rails, a longitudinally-movable platen mounted upon said bed, a shift-key for shifting said bed from a normal position in one direction transversely to the line of longitunal movement of the platen, a second shiftkey for shifting said bed from such position in the opposite direction, and an intermediate connector normally connecting one lever with the other and shiftable to a position in which it is inoperative to transmitmotion between the levers.

10. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a shiftable supporting-bed, of rails extending from the front toward the rear of the machine, a grooved and a cylindrical roller mounted upon said bed and adapted to travel on said rails, a longitudinally-movable platen mounted upon said bed, a shift-lever for shifting said bed from a normal position in one direction transversely to the line of longitudinal movement of the platen, an independently-actuatable shift-lever for shifting said bed from such position in the opposite direction, and a spring-pressed shift-key-supportinglatch mounted upon the second-mentioned lever and in normal operative relation with the first-mentioned shift-lever.

11. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a shiftable supporting-bed, of rails extending from the front toward the rear of the machine, a grooved and a cylindrical roller mounted upon said bed and adapted to travel on said rails, a longitudinally-movable platen mounted upon said bed, a shift-lever for moving the said bed from its normal position in one direction transversely to the line of longitudinal movement of the platen, said lever being pivoted intermediate its ends and having a lateral extension at one end, an independently-actuatable shift-lever for shifting said bed from such position in the opposite direction, a latch pivotally mounted upon the second-mentioned lever, and stops for limiting the pivotal motion of the latch in opposite directions said latch being adapted to rest upon said lateral extension.

12. The combination with a shit'table supporting-bed comprising a pair of runways, of a longitudinally-movable platen, a supporting-roller adapted to roll lengthwise of one of said runways, balls for supporting the carriage on the other runway, a shift-key for shifting the bed from a normal position in one direction transversely to its line of movement, a second shift-key for shifting said bed from such position in the opposite direction, and an intermediate connector normally connecting one lever with the other and shiftable to a position in which it is inoperative to transmit motion between the lovers.

13. The combination with a shiftable bed comprising a pair of runways, of a platen-supporting carriage mounted thereon, a carriagesupporting roller adapted to travel lengthwise of one of said runways, balls supporting said carriage on the other runway, a shiftlever for shifting said bed from a normal position in one direction transversely to the line of longitudinal movement of the carriage, an independently-actuatable shift-leverfor shifting said bed from such position in the opposite direction, and a spring-pressed shift-keysupporting latch mounted upon the secondmentioned lever and in normal operative relation with the first-mentioned shift-lever.

14. The combination with a shiftable bed comprising a pair of runways, of a platen-supporting carriage mounted thereon, a supporting-roller adapted to travel lengthwise of one of said runways, balls supporting said carriage on the other runway, a shift-lever for shifting said bed from a normal position in one direction transversely. to the line of longitudinal movement of the carriage, said lever being pivoted intermediate its ends and having a lateral extension at one end, an independently-actuatable shift-lever for shifting said bed from such position in the opposite direction, a latch pivotally mounted upon the second-mentioned lever, and stops for limiting the pivotal motion of the latch in opposite direction, said latch being adapted to rest upon said lateral extension.

15. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a shiftable supporting-bed comprising a pair of runways, of rails extending from the front toward the rear of the machine, a grooved and a cylindrical roller mounted upon said bed and adapted to travel on said rails; a longitudinally-movable platen-supporting carriage mounted upon said bed; a shift-key for shifting said bed from a normal position in one direction transversely to the line of longitudinal movement of the car- .riage; a second shift-key for shifting said bed from such position in the opposite direction, an intermediate connector normally connecting one lever with the other and shiftable to a position in'which it is inoperative to transmit motion between the levers; a carriagesupporting roller adapted to roll lengthwise of one of said runways; and balls for supporting the carriage on the other runway.

16. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a shiftable supporting-bed comprising a pair of runways, of rails extending from the front toward the rear of the machine; a grooved and a cylindrical roller mounted upon said bed and adapted to travel on said rails; a longitudinally-movable platen-supportingcarriage mounted upon said bed; a shift-lever for shifting said bed from a normal position in one direction transversely to the line of longitudinal movement of the carriage; an independently-actuatable shift-lever for shifting said bed from such position in the opposite direction; a spring-pressed shift-key-supporting latch mounted upon the second-mentioned lever and in normal opera tive relation with the first-mentioned shiftlever; a carriage-supporting roller adapted to travel lengthwise of one of said runways; and balls supporting said carriage on the other runway.

17. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a shiftable supporting-bed comprising a pair of runways,of rails extending from the front toward the rear of the machine; a grooved and a cylindrical roller mounted its ends and having a lateral extensionat one end; an independently-actuatable shift-lever for shifting said bed from such position in the opposite direction; a latch pivotally mounted upon the second-mentioned lever; and stops forlimiting the motion of the latch in opposite directions.

18. The combination with a shiftable supporting-bed and a platen mounted to move longitudinally thereon, of a shift-lever for shifting said supporting-bed from a normal position in one direction transversely to the line of its longitudinal movement; a second shift-lever for shifting said supporting-bed from such position in the opposite direction, an intermediate connector normally connecting one lever with the other and shiftable to a position in which it is inoperative to transmit motion between the levers; springs for retracting said shift-levers when actuated;

.and stops for limiting their movement in both directions.

19. The combination with a supporting-bed and a platen mounted to move longitudinally thereon, of a shift-lever forshifting said supporting-bed from its normal position in one direction transversely to the line of longitudinal movement of the platen; an independentlyactuatable shift-lever for shifting said bed from such position in the opposite direction; a spring-pressed shift-key-supporting latch mounted upon the second-mentioned lever and in normal relation with the first-mentioned shift-lever; springs for retracting said shift-levers when actuated; and stops for limiting their movement in both directions.

20. The combination with a supporting-bed and a platen mounted to move longitudinally thereon, of a shift-key therefor pivoted intermediate its ends and having a lateral extension at one end; an independently-actuatable shift-lever; a latch pivotally mounted upon the second-mentioned lever; stops for limiting the pivotal motion of the latch in opposite directions, said latch being adapted to rest upon said lateral extension; springs for retracting said shift-levers when actuated; .and stops for limiting their movement in both directions.

JOHN J. GREEN.

Witnesses:

FRED. J. DOLE, JOHN O. SEIFERT.

ICC 

